The enhancement of carbon fiber modified with electropolymer coating to the mechanical properties of epoxy resin composites

In this paper, based on voltammetric scanning with phenol, m-phenylenediamine and acrylic acid as monomer, an electropolymerization coating process was developed for the surface modification of the carbon fiber to obtain a controlled interface between carbon fiber and epoxy matrix in the composites system; SEM, IR spectrum and contact angles measure reveal that the electropolymer coating can size the morphology and free energy of the carbon fiber surface for a favorable wettability to the matrix resin by introducing the active groups like -OH, -NH2, and -COOH, which can also improve the interfacial adhesion in the composites. Experimental results show that the transverse strength, the longitudinal tension strength and the interlaminar shear strength of the composites reinforced by the carbon fiber coated with the electropolymers have been enhanced about 50%, 64% and 135%, which indicates the surface modification of the carbon fiber by electropolymerization skill may be a potential approach for high performance composites developing. (C) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.